More Marvel
In case anyone is wondering, I‘m still watching Legion, and I do have thoughts, but any review will have to wait until I see the resolution, because my opinion very much depends on what the show does with the various issues it has raised.
Meanwhile, browsing through MCU fanfiction reminded me again of the downside that comes with a juggernaut fandom - to wit, there is so much that it‘s easy to miss the gems among all the dross. Also, inevitably there‘s a lot where independent from quality of writing it‘s just not for me because I disagree with some key characterisations, and/or the tropes it uses might be fun for the writer but not yours truly. The tagging system does work as an early warning and thus comes in useful, as in: I avoid anything with „X needs a hug“, „y is a good bro“, or „Zs A+ parenting“. Words like „smol“ or „precious“ are also good signals to look elsewhere.
Otoh, rewatching some of the movies reminds me why I‘m so fond of the MCU to begin with. Not that any of them are perfect, but for starters, their way of balancing flaws and virtues of characters feels more interesting to me than many a fanfic where everyone is either „the best“ or „the worst“ and one joke or complaint in canon is endlessly repeated. (I first noticed this back in ye olde Highlander days where Methos helping himself to a beer from Duncan‘s fridge once or twice became Methos not drinking anything else, to use one of the more harmless examples.) But of course MCU canon leaves me with itches to be scratched as well, otherwise I wouldn‘t look for fanfiction to begin with. Two results of these expeditions:
Avengers:
Making Lemonade
I was very annoyed indeed with one particular scene in Infinity War, featuring Rhodey and dealing (or not) with the Civil War fallout, so this Rhodey pov story perfectly scratched that particular itch. Because... yes. That.
Refugee Road
An intense Bruce Banner character study, incorporating some comics canon into the MCU, and co-starring Tony Stark.
This entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1288503.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
Meanwhile, browsing through MCU fanfiction reminded me again of the downside that comes with a juggernaut fandom - to wit, there is so much that it‘s easy to miss the gems among all the dross. Also, inevitably there‘s a lot where independent from quality of writing it‘s just not for me because I disagree with some key characterisations, and/or the tropes it uses might be fun for the writer but not yours truly. The tagging system does work as an early warning and thus comes in useful, as in: I avoid anything with „X needs a hug“, „y is a good bro“, or „Zs A+ parenting“. Words like „smol“ or „precious“ are also good signals to look elsewhere.
Otoh, rewatching some of the movies reminds me why I‘m so fond of the MCU to begin with. Not that any of them are perfect, but for starters, their way of balancing flaws and virtues of characters feels more interesting to me than many a fanfic where everyone is either „the best“ or „the worst“ and one joke or complaint in canon is endlessly repeated. (I first noticed this back in ye olde Highlander days where Methos helping himself to a beer from Duncan‘s fridge once or twice became Methos not drinking anything else, to use one of the more harmless examples.) But of course MCU canon leaves me with itches to be scratched as well, otherwise I wouldn‘t look for fanfiction to begin with. Two results of these expeditions:
Avengers:
Making Lemonade
I was very annoyed indeed with one particular scene in Infinity War, featuring Rhodey and dealing (or not) with the Civil War fallout, so this Rhodey pov story perfectly scratched that particular itch. Because... yes. That.
Refugee Road
An intense Bruce Banner character study, incorporating some comics canon into the MCU, and co-starring Tony Stark.
This entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1288503.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.